Belarus is ready for an open dialogue with the West without infringing upon national interests

Alexander Lukashenko

MINSK, February 21. /ITAR-TASS/. Belarus is ready for an open dialogue with the West without infringing upon national interests, President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday.

“I don’t hide that I’d like to hear information on our work in the Western direction. I believe that there are no problems in the eastern aspect,” Lukashenko said.

Belarus seeks to pursue a many-vector policy. “We’ll implement it. We don’t need problems in the West and more so in the East. This does not mean that we’re starting to freak out, save anything and change our criteria and policy,” the president said.

“The Foreign Ministry will be guided by these principles. We look at where connivance to radicalism and extremism will lead to on the example of certain neighbouring countries,” Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said.

There is certain progress in relations between Belarus and the European Union, and Belarus and the USA. “We believe that no serious breakthrough has been achieved due to the fact that real obstacles exist in our relations. They cannot be removed within a day or a month,” the minister said, adding “We’re working on reaching agreements with the EU on visa-free formalities and readmission.